Uphold abortion clinic 'buffer zone'

Uphold abortion clinic 'buffer zone'

11:54 PM,
Jan. 19, 2014

Written by

USA TODAY

For years, authorities in Massachusetts were unable to stop harassment and violence outside clinics where abortions were performed. Injunctions, arrests and prosecutions didn't stop activists from screaming in patients' faces, physically impeding them from entering clinics or surrounding cars trying to enter parking lots.

In 2007, however, state lawmakers hit on the idea of creating a 35-foot buffer zone around clinic entrances. Outside the zone, activists could approach patients to try to talk them out of having abortions. But once patients crossed the line - literally painted on ...